Colombo: Sri Lanka Cricket is set to reappoint former captain Sanath Jayasuriya as chief selector a year after he stepped down from the position.
Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala said on Tuesday that Jayasuriya has agreed to take up the role, but his appointment needs to be approved by the sports minister. Sumathipala says outgoing chief selector and former batting star Aravinda de Silva will also be retained as an adviser.
The proposed appointments are part of changes after Sri Lanka’s first-round exit after finishing fourth in Group 1 in the recently concluded World Twenty20 tournament.
Jayasuriya played 586 international matches for Sri Lanka across all formats, scoring 21,032 runs and taking 440 wickets.
He was previously appointed chief selector in 2013, but resigned last year following criticism by a new sports minister of the selection process.
De Silva had been appointed to the position shortly before the World Twenty20 on a short-term basis after the sacking of a selection panel, led by former national team seam bowler Kapila Wijegunawardene.
Sumathipala also said that Sri Lanka’s plan is to give Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal a long run as captain and vice-captain and to build a stable team around them.
Sri Lanka has had to deal with the retirement of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene last year and slumped to a series of defeats in recent months.
Sri Lanka begin a tour of England in May, playing Test, one-day and Twenty20I matches, and also travel to Ireland for two One Day Internationals.
